{"id":5672,"date":"2023-11-28T08:25:43","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T08:25:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aussiepizzas.com\/PIZZADELIVERY\/hermit-cookies\/"},"modified":"2023-11-28T08:25:43","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T08:25:43","slug":"hermit-cookies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.aussiepizzas.com\/PIZZADELIVERY\/hermit-cookies\/","title":{"rendered":"Hermit Cookies"},"content":{"rendered":"

This hermit cookie recipe came to me via a friend. I was enjoying dinner with my friend Sante and a few others. Sante is a fun person to chat with because he’s one of those guys who never runs out of stories – or opinions for that matter. Some of you may know him from his days as the chef at the Slow Club in San Francisco. Late in the evening the topic of conversation turned to Christmas cookies.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m solidly a shortbread<\/a> person, but Sante started talking about hermits – a cookie he makes regularly for a friend who loves them. I had no idea what he was talking about. I’d never heard of a hermit cookie. He went on to describe a simple, drop-style spice cookie loaded with tiny currants and chopped walnuts, finished with a bit of icing. He promised to share his recipe with me, and here we are. As promise, an A-plus addition to any holiday cookie platter.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What are Hermit Cookies?<\/span><\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve come to learn that there are all sorts of theories about how these cookies came to be named. Some say hermit cookies got their name because they taste best when they\u2019ve been hidden away like hermits for a couple days. There\u2019s the theory that they looked like a hermit\u2019s brown cloth. The oldest versions of the recipe are thought to be back to Medieval European hermitages. So that\u2019s another angle. It may be a bit of all of the above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are as many approaches to making hermits as there are bakers. The common ingredients seemingly spices, raisins or dates, nuts. Some like hermits iced or frosted, others skip it. They are simple to make. The chewy, nuttiness along with warm flavors like cinnamon, allspice, and cloves strike a nice balance. And, I keep thinking, this might also make the foundation for a delicious muffin batter.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hermit Cookies: Pro-tips<\/span><\/h2>\n

Here are a few things I’ve learned after making Sante\u2019s hermits over the years. True to the legend, they are really good the day they are baked and iced, but exponentially better the day after. The icing develops a bit of a crust and the spices meld together. Hermits are perfect with a cup of coffee in the morning. They are great on a holiday cookie plate. A cup of cardamom (or saffron tea) in the afternoon is another perfect pairing. I also never skimp on the icing. If you\u2019re in my camp consider doubling up on the icing.<\/span>\"hermit
Above you can see the cookie dough coming together. And below the final consistency of the dough after all ingredients have been incorporated.
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Hermit Cookies: Variations<\/h2>\n

Here are a few variations people have noted in the comments that sound fantastic! New Englanders definitely repping for bar-shaped hermits made with molasses in the comments.<\/p>\n